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1969 Hawaii: Details in Peace Corps Journal.
1970 At 2PM we had house mekes (traditional sit down song with motions) which Rewa won. At 6PM I went down for the house feast. McDougalls, Atmores, Robalevus and Seru with wife also attended. We ate inside the recreation room. Cagi gave a heavy speech on the low calibre of the prefects. I went down to Netani's for a sing-song until 2AM. All the Fijians came and the party was a real smash with Netani continually filling glasses.
Rewa


Rewa


Rewa

Rewa


Rewa


Tovata
1972 Bought four mats including a nice one from Emosi S. Murphys and we are farewelled at Kaci's. Epeli made a speech. Apenisa presented us a tanoa from the students. Staff gave us a Bates print.
1973 Met Murray at school with an el-cheapo typewriter that he picked up at the last moment in Fiji. He couldn't find our flat in the dark last night and ended up at McDougall's. He came into town with me, Smithers and Sue Miller as we set up our selling groups for Community Chest Mystery Envelope Appeal. Talked to him for about an hour and then he took off for Dunedin. Big hassle collecting money from the students and changing over to new sellers. We sold until 2PM - 1700 envelopes at 50¢. Kathy and Mike picked us up at 4PM. Stopped at Tirau and got some takeaways, which we ate in a vacant lot in Putaruru. Taupo at 8PM. Set up tents at the Municipal Motor Camp. Walked along the shore and into town. Next to main road and street lights on all night.
Taupo
1974 Sanders over for my birthday curry and claret. We watched Monty Python.
1975 Mom upset that I had given her chairs away, so I organized to get them back. Met Kyberg at Minnesota Car Auction in Crystal. Drove him back to St Paul, met his girl, Abby, and got one of the chairs. Drove to Jim's for the tail end of Brenda's birthday party. Dulacs, Herb and Darlene, Marshall and Sandy, Gloria and Jesse were there.
1985 Sa - Clarks at 10 Snell for the first time. Gave them a Spanish red and outdoor thermometer as housewarming gift. Maraetai - walked to Omana Beach, watched a man with a metal detector. Sandy, Gail and David went in for a swim. Beach pretty empty. Their place for coffee.
1990 Staff meeting - 600 staff cut, PC support on hold until recognized by users and funding made available. Whites - he dug a hole in the back yard and they now have a "pool". Exchanged gifts.
1991 Whites (Ian on crutch - bad back) came at 4PM. Bridge until Steve Graham and James Mitchell arrived (with wine: CabSav-Pinot and a French red, respectively). Roast beef sandwiches and chat until 7:30PM when we began playing R 'n R games - Scattergories. Aldies (New World Map, Wine Celler book, Goofy doll) came at 8:45PM. Sanders (Joan Baez cassette and card) at 10PM (video). Clarks (wine and card) arrived at Midnight. It got loud thanks to me playing my 45s. Susi and Doug managed to collapse the camping table.

ex Aldies

ex Sanders


ex Clarks
1992 David's graduation dinner. Sat with Cullens and Taylors. Chatted with Forunsek, Dougalls, Sue Baker and others. David got a distinction and class award for Computer Studies.
1993 On road at 10AM. Dad impressed with how many houses we passed and how well kept the the towns were. Waitomo for 1PM tour. Dad didn't believe that worms could glow. In the "cathedral", the guide played "Rock Music" by tapping on the wall. Lunch on a picnic table. Dad thought he would walk to a Maori Village - it was a rugby club. We went to Ohaki, which was in a very sad state of disrepair - couple whare, a school house, food storage and meeting house (video). Rotorua - Dad didn't notice the smell. Owner of Wylie Court, Johnston, from Papakura and his sons were at Rosehill in the 70's. Supper at McDonald's and Dad didn't notice the Maori carvings. Woolies to get Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. Heated pool and then our spa. Dad was worried about staying in too long and having a heart attack, but stayed in 20 minutes. David in bedroom with Dad, Ne had luxury bedroom and I was on the floor.
Waitomo


Ohaki


more photos
1996 Sa - Painting beams in front of garage door. The 10 litre paint can fell from top of ladder and exploded all over, getting van, deck chairs, Stephanie's stuff, Gail's bike and more. Spent an hour trying to clean it up before it dried. Then 5 hours painting those beams.
1999 T - Went to 47 Queen Street with Trish and Doug to create a $205 bill which included a very good Saints '99 Gerwurzt. Print on menu very small and they brought a magnifying glass for Trish to use.
2000 Th - With Aldies for a meal at Monarch in Pukekohe. Excellent musky Villa Maria '00 Riesling. Doug gave me Beatles 1 CD and a Starbucks mug.
2003 Trish and David (he stole a dog away from Great Barrier Island) came at 11:30AM for lunch and gift sharing and baba cake. I was given a Goofy figure that tries to net a butterfly and a Goofy bike bell.
2010 T - Breakfast at the motel. Whakarewarewa. Decided to do the living village and it has grown with many new houses and a few shops. Not much to see for thermal activity but enough to make Linda happy ("steam comes right out of the ground"). Timed it so that just as they finished their souvenir shopping the outdoor Kapahaka group performed. Only six of them but they did well and covered every aspect except for hongi. Audience participation was a Māori version of "Hokey Pokey". Dropped the ladies off in town to shop while Dale and I went through the Caterpillar Experience. Dale seemed to know a lot about every model. While waiting for the women at an Internet café the Malaysian waitress, Swi, chatted with us. On the long drive back I kept making the wrong turns so Dale had to be the sign reader for me and point which way. Maraetai so Linda could find more shells.







2012 F - Trish gave us a keyholder as housewarming gift. We went to town, stopping at Hospice shop. Then looked at the two cruise ships - but rain stopped us from getting out. Dropped Trish off to ATM and told her we would drive around the block. But I parked and we walked back. Meanwhile Trish tried to get into a car that looked like ours and had stopped at the crosswalk.
2018 F - Gail went off to Hospice Christmas do with Colleen where Col won 1st prize and Gail got second - a tin Lolly truck. First time into salt pool. But first I hit the gym using 4Kg dumbells. While I was on the bike, the nurse checked in and said it was the first time anyone had used it. 10 minutes trying to swim and then 10 minutes in the hot tub.
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